Dogs, like other living things, go through a certain period of development after birth, during which their skeleton is formed, mass is gained and growth is established. The period of development depends on the breed of the dog, its care, as well as on the individual characteristics of a particular pet.
Dog growth in the first six months
The development of a dog is divided into several periods, at the end of which it stops growing and is considered an adult. In the first weather, a small breed puppy triples its weight, while growth usually doubles. In the animal, the growth of tubular bones ends, on the correct development of which the future proportions of the body largely depend.
Simply put, the puppy grows up in the first weather, which is why by 6 months it seems a little thin and awkward, and representatives of some breeds, for example, shepherd dogs, also look slightly lop-eared. Nevertheless, this is one of the most important periods in the development of the dog, during which the puppy should be provided with maximum care and proper nutrition, including not only proteins, but also vitamins. Otherwise, the growth of the dog may slow down.
The nutrition of the dog during development should be complete, but not excessive. Otherwise, the puppy may gain excessive weight, which increases the risk of developing bone and joint diseases.
The program of his upbringing is also of great importance for the correct development of the puppy. Excessive exercise or, conversely, a sedentary lifestyle can disrupt bone development and lead to injury or serious illness of the musculoskeletal system.
Dog growth from 6 months to 2, 5 years
After six months, the puppies begin to gain more weight, and their upward growth slows down a little. Up to a year, they actively grow flat bones, as a result of which there is an intensive development of the chest. The puppy begins to mature and becomes more and more like an adult animal.
From birth to one year old, puppies of large breeds increase their weight by about 70 times, and representatives of small breeds - 20 times.
At the withers, the growth of the dog reaches adult values by 9-10 months. After a year in puppies, as a rule, development does not end, but slows down a little. The time of the final formation of the skeleton largely depends on the breed of the animal. Small breeds of dogs no longer grow and develop after 1, 5-2 years, and large dogs can grow up to three years of age. Only after this period can the dog be considered completely adult.
Heredity is also important for the development of the dog. There are lines of rocks with a later or, conversely, with an earlier formation.
